Narcissa and Bellatrix both sat in an angry silence in the hallway. For the past few hours they had been having whispered arguments outside the door of a dying Abraxas Malfoy's bedroom and, not content with having to wait for him to die, Bellatrix had been complaining constantly. At last, to Narcissa's relief, the door opened with a creak. Lucius walked out, trembling, his pointed face even paler
than usual.
Narcissa rose to meet him. "Lucius?"
He turned slowly and stared at her as if seeing her for the first time. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"Lucius?" repeated Narcissa. "Is it your father? Has he ... has he gone?"
"Let's hope so," muttered Bellatrix, which earnt her a dirty look from her sister.
Still unable to speak, Lucius nodded.
"I am so sorry," said Narcissa, laying a hand on his arm. He flinched and stared at her wide-eyed.
Bellatrix laughed softly. "It isn't as though it was unexpected! He has been dragging it out for weeks!"
"Come, sit down, Lucius," said Narcissa, ignoring her sister. She led him slowly to one of the vacated chairs on which he sat down, shaking. The stunned look upon his face did not falter.
Bellatrix waved her hand in front of his unresponsive face. She shared a look with her sister.
"Lucius, what on earth is it?" asked Narcissa softly.
"I ... I - you ..."
"Spit it out!" demanded Bellatrix.
Lucius took a deep breath abd shuddered. "He - he fathered another child," he said shakily.
"What?" exclaimed Narcissa.
"He fathered another child!"
"Oh," said Narcissa, wide-eyed. "So ... do they have any claim on the money?"
Lucius turned his head to look at Narcissa. "No - that is not the problem."
"Well what is it then?"
Lucius screwed up his face. "My sister - Narcissa, it's you."